The creation of the Plaine de l'Ain Industrial Park has a dual origin, which goes back to the end of 1960s

• the project of a second new town located on the axis Lyon-Geneva following the example of the one on the axis Lyon-Grenoble. This prospect met the opposition of the local population and representatives
• the idea to create a second oil refinery (which was given up following the oil crisis) and relocate Lyon's chemical industry after the accident of Feyzin in 1967.

At Mr. Guy de la Verpillière's (deputy mayor of Lagnieu and councillor of Ain) instigation the local representatives decided to create a big industrial zone and welcome some factories. It was necessary to fight against the rural depopulation by creating of local jobs.

Plaine de l'Ain was a subject of several studies, which showed its main intrinsic qualities to welcome some industries:

• low urbanisation,
• very flat relief
• soil without any agronomic interest
• prevailing winds which avoid the neighbouring villages
• nearness of Rhône river
• important ground water but which is necessary to protect
• favourable location on the axis Lyon-Geneva
• good architectonic quality of the soil

In 1976 was created Plaine de l'Ain Mixed Syndicate in this zone and its first president was Mr. de la Verpillière.

The development policy, which has been maintaining for the last 35 years, is based on three main strategic lines:

• development rate management
• diversity of the activities
• protection of the environment

These bases were the beginning of what we call a long-term development !